iPhone Emergency SOS via Satellite saves life of family caught in wildfires in Maui
Tom Sykes
Posted On 10/08/2023 
Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which connects device’s directly to a satellite to call the emergency services if a user is in need of help where there’s no cellular connection, has been praised for saving the life of a family caught in the wildfires blazing through Maui, Hawaii.
As shared by Michael J. Miraflor on X, formerly known as Twitter, his brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them.
With no cellular connection, one of the people in the vehicle had an iPhone 14, and used the device to connect via satellite to the emergency services to call for help.
My brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them.
No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives. pic.twitter.com/PpxNwTGOAf
— Michael J. Miraflor (@michaelmiraflor) August 10, 2023
Michael has shared a screenshot showing the rapid conversation with the emergency services through Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite, which front-loads vital questions to assess the user’s situation and shows them where to point their phone to connect to a satellite. The initial questionnaire and follow-up messages are then relayed to centers staffed by Apple‑trained specialists who can call for help on the user’s behalf.
Every model in the iPhone 14 lineup — iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max — supports Emergency SOS via satellite in supported countries and regions.
